McMahon Freezes Harvard Research Grants, Citing Mismanagement

Education Secretary Linda McMahon has notified Harvard University that the federal government will no longer approve new research grants to the institution, citing allegations of disastrous mismanagement, failure to address antisemitism, and ongoing violations of federal law. In a sharply worded letter, McMahon criticized Harvard's use of its substantial endowment, its alleged admission of foreign students exhibiting violent behavior, and its supposed abandonment of academic standards such as standardized testing and rigorous grading. She also accused Harvard of continuing race-based preferences in admissions and hiring, as well as tolerating plagiarism and hiring controversial former public officials as faculty. Harvard, in response, condemned the administration’s actions as unprecedented government overreach intended to stifle research and innovation, and vowed to continue challenging the federal freeze in court. The university further asserted its commitment to legal compliance, viewpoint diversity, and combating antisemitism, while denouncing the funding cutoff as retaliation for its lawsuit against the administration. This standoff signals a significant escalation in tensions between the federal government and elite academic institutions over issues of campus culture, admissions, and federal oversight.